The residents of Houston just won a dubious distinction that will hit them right at their waistlines.
Among "fat cities," Houston ranks No. 1, followed by Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Dallas, according to results released on Good Morning America on January 3. The survey looks at 16 different categories, such as how well city residents fare in nutrition, exercise and sports participation, and to what extent they embrace poor health choices, such as smoking, drinking and excessive TV watching.
To figure out each city's fat content, researchers tallied the number of fast food joints per city, checked out the average length of commutes (the longer the ride, the higher the chance of excess fat), examined air and water quality and explored parks and recreational facilities.
Medical experts say that America's rising obesity stems from a society that has grown increasingly automated, where fast food is cheap and easy.
But if you live in a "fat city," that doesn't mean your own destiny is high-density. In modern society, obesity is partially related to not having a lot of money, one doctor said.
"Part of it is that fatty food is cheap," said Paul Thompson, a cardiologist at Hartford Hospital, in Hartford, Conn. A couple of slices of pizza is cheaper and easier than what you'll find at the health food store.
Plus, for many of us, a natural exercise such as - walking to work - just isn't feasible.
Some experts have pointed out that while food has grown increasingly cheap, getting exercise can be costly.
"The whole concept of getting folks lean is to reverse the process," Thompson suggested. "Make exercise cheap and food more expensive."
Experts offer some simple weight loss tips to get the fattest city dwellers started on a healthier lifestyle.
Cut out one soft drink a day, instead drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day
Walk at least one block a day
Getting 30 minutes of exercise a day , walk up steps instead of taking the elevator.
Eat more vegetables and fruits
Sleeping 8 hours a night
| 走在美国的大街上，那些有着粗壮腰围的大胖子们十有八九来自休斯敦，因为据（美国广播公司）1月3日"早安美国"栏目中刊登的调查结果，美国"肥胖城市"排行榜中休斯敦市排名第一，接下来依次是芝加哥、底特律、费城和达拉斯。 这项健康调查从16个相关方面提出了一系列问题，包括城市居民在营养、锻炼和参加体育活动等方面的情况，他们都有哪些不良生活习惯，例如吸烟、酗酒和看电视时间过长等及其程度的轻重。
为了找出这些城市的居民的肥胖原因，研究者记录了各个城市快餐店的数量，计算了人们上下班的平均路程（调查显示驾车上下班的路程越长，肥胖的几率越高），检测了这些城市的水和空气的质量，同时调查了城市公园和娱乐场所的状况。
医学专家认为美国肥胖人口数量的增加是由于社会自动化程度日益加深，快餐方便又廉价，（使得人们对快餐产生了依赖）。
当然，生活在"肥胖之城"并不意味着就一定也会肥胖。一位医生这样说道，在现代社会中，往往贫穷反而意味着肥胖。
美国康涅狄格州哈特福德医院的心脏病专家保罗·汤普森说："出现这种现象的原因部分是因为大多数高热量的食品比较廉价。"买几块快餐比萨要比在出售健康食品的餐馆里用餐便宜、方便多了。
此外，对于大多数人来说，像步行上班这样的自然锻炼方式毕竟不太现实。
一些专家已经指出，在食物价格日益下降的情况下，人们正在为锻炼身体花费更多的金钱。
汤普森建议说："如果将这两种价格调换一下，让人们多花钱吃饭而少花钱锻炼，也许可以大大减少肥胖人群的数量。"
专家们建议这些"肥胖城市"的居民开始一种更健康的生活方式， 以下是专家们提出的几条简单的减肥建议：
每天少喝一杯软饮料，多喝白开水（6-8杯）；
每天至少步行走过一个街区；
每天锻炼30分钟，不乘电梯而改为爬楼梯；
多吃蔬菜和水果；
每天保证8小时睡眠
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